Apparel configurable into bedding or having removable bedding

ABSTRACT

A bedding can be detachably attached to an exterior or interior surface of an apparel. The bedding may attach to the surface of the apparel or the bedding can be disposed in a pocket formed in, or as part of, the interior or exterior surface of the apparel. Alternatively, an apparel can be configured into a bedding. Alternatively, the apparel and a second apparel can detachably attach to one another to form a bedding.

FIELD

The described embodiments relate generally to apparel and/or outerwear.More particularly, the present embodiments relate to apparel withdetachable or removable bedding or apparel that is configurable intobedding.

BACKGROUND

Many sporting and recreational activities are performed outdoors in coolor cold temperatures. For example, many people enjoy hiking in the fallor snowshoeing in the winter. Alternatively, many people attend footballgames in the fall and winter. And in many situations, a person who ishomeless is outdoors all day and all night.

To keep warm in such circumstances, a person often wears apparel that isdesigned for the cool or cold temperatures, or the person layersmultiple garments for warmth. In some situations, however, a personwould like an additional article of clothing or bedding to keep warm,such as a blanket or a sleeping bag. However, such additional articlesof clothing or bedding may not be readily available to the person.Alternatively, the person is required to carry or wear the apparel andseparately carry the bedding, which can be cumbersome or undesirable insome situations.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an apparel assembly includes an apparel wearable by aperson and bedding detachably attached to a surface of the apparel withat least one fastener. The bedding may be detachably attached to anexterior or an interior surface of the apparel. When attached to thesurface of the apparel, the bedding can be folded to reduce the size ofthe bedding to a fraction of its original size (e.g., folded in half orin thirds). In one embodiment, a portion or surface of the bedding formsa part of the exterior or interior surface of the apparel. Any suitablefastener(s) may be used. Example fasteners include, but are not limitedto, snaps, buttons, one or more zippers, Velcro®, loops over buttons,clasps (e.g., magnetic clasps), and combinations thereof.

Alternatively, a pocket can be formed in a surface of the jacket and thebedding stored in the pocket. One or more fasteners can be used to openand close at least one side of the pocket. The bedding can be detachedfrom the apparel (e.g., removed from the pocket) when a user wants touse the bedding. When stored in the pocket, the bedding can be folded toreduce the size of the bedding to a fraction of its original size (e.g.,folded in half or in thirds).

The apparel can be any suitable type of apparel. Similarly, any suitabletype of bedding may be used. In one non-limiting example, the apparel isa jacket and the bedding a sleeping bag. In another non-limitingexample, the apparel is a jacket or vest and the bedding is one or moreblankets.

In another aspect, a pair of pants that is wearable by a person isconfigurable into bedding. The pair of pants includes one or more firstfasteners that is/are used to configure the pants (e.g., each leg of thepair of pants), and at least one second fastener that is used toconfigure the pants into the bedding. In one non-limiting example, thebedding is a sleeping bag or a half sleeping bag. In some embodiments,the one or more first fasteners include at least two first fasteners andthe at least one second fastener is constructed using componentsassociated with the two or more first fasteners. Additionally oralternatively, the pair of pants may include a first set of one or morefasteners. The first set of one or more fasteners is configured todetachably attach to a second set of one or more fasteners associatedwith a second apparel.

In yet another aspect, an apparel assembly includes an apparel wearableby a person and a pair of pants that is configurable into bedding. Theapparel includes a first set of one or more fasteners. The pair of pantsincludes one or more first fasteners to configure each leg of the pairof pants and at least one second fastener to configure the apparel intothe bedding. The pair of pants also includes a second set of one or morefasteners configured to detachably attach to the first set of one ormore fasteners. In one non-limiting example, the apparel is a jacket andthe bedding a sleeping bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIGS. 1A-1B show front and back views of a first example of an apparel;

FIGS. 2A-2C depict the apparel shown in FIG. 1A with one example of adetachable bedding;

FIGS. 3A-3C show a second example of an apparel with another example ofa detachable bedding;

FIGS. 4A-4C depict a third example of an apparel with another example ofa detachable bedding;

FIGS. 5A-5C show a fourth example of an apparel with an example of adetachable or removable bedding;

FIGS. 6A-6C show a first example of an apparel that can be configuredinto bedding; and

FIG. 7 depicts a second example of an apparel that can be configuredinto bedding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood thatthe following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments toone preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included withinthe spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by theappended claims.

The following disclosure relates to apparel that converts to bedding orthat includes removable or detachable bedding. As described herein, theterm “apparel” is meant to be construed broadly to encompass clothing,outdoor garments, and outerwear constructed for men, women, and/orchildren. The apparel is any suitable type of apparel. For example, theapparel can be a coat, a jacket, a shirt, pants, a blazer, a pullover,and a vest.

The term “bedding” is meant to be construed broadly to encompass asleeping bag, a cover, a blanket or blankets. Any suitable type ofbedding is contemplated. In one embodiment, the bedding is detachablyattached to the apparel. The bedding may attach to an exterior orinterior surface of the apparel. For example, the bedding may be asleeping bag that detachably attaches to the exterior back surface of ajacket. Alternatively, the sleeping bag can be detached from the apparelby removing the bedding from a pocket formed in a surface of the jacket.In another example embodiment, the bedding may be a blanket that isdetachably attached to the interior back surface of a vest.

In another embodiment, the apparel is configurable into bedding. In onenon-limiting embodiment, a pair of pants may be converted into asleeping bag. In some embodiments, the sleeping bag may then be attachedto a jacket, allowing the jacket and sleeping bag to cover or envelopmost of the wearer's body.

The apparel and bedding can have any suitable size and/or dimensions.Additionally, the apparel and the bedding can each be made of anysuitable material or materials that provide(s) warmth and/or protectionfrom the environment or weather. For example, the material may bewaterproof, water resistant, wind resistant, and/or durable. The fabricor fabrics that can be used to form the apparel and bedding include, butare not limited to, a synthetic fiber thermal insulation, fleece, wool,flannel, a polypropylene, and various combinations thereof. The appareland/or bedding can include multiple layers to provide insulation and/orvarious additional insulating materials or liners in addition to thetype of fabric(s), such as down, a synthetic microfiber thermalinsulation, and/or a polyester-based insulation.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-7. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1 illustrates front and back views of a first example of anapparel. The apparel 100 is depicted as a jacket with two long sleeves104 and a hood 106. An example jacket includes, but is not limited to,ski jacket, snow jacket, hunting jacket, and a winter jacket constructedfor men, women, and/or children. Other embodiments, however, are notlimited to this type of apparel. As discussed earlier, any suitable typeof apparel can be used, such as a coat, a shirt, pants, a blazer, avest, or a pullover. Additionally, other embodiments are not limited tothe illustrated construction of a jacket. For example, the hood 106 maybe omitted in other embodiments, or short sleeves can be used instead oflong sleeves.

A closure mechanism 108 is configured to open or close the two sides ofthe front surface 102 of the jacket 100. The closure mechanism 108 is azipper in the illustrated embodiment. Other embodiments can use adifferent type of closure mechanism, such as buttons or snaps. In someembodiments, a combination of different types of closure mechanisms maybe used, such as buttons, a zipper, and/or snaps. Alternatively, theclosure mechanism 108 may be omitted from the apparel 100. As oneexample, the apparel can be a pullover jacket that includes detachablebedding.

FIG. 1B shows the exterior back surface 110 of the apparel 100. Abedding is detachably attached to the back surface 110 using one or morefasteners 114. Any suitable type of fastener or fasteners can be used.Example fasteners include, but are not limited to, snaps, buttons, oneor more zippers, Velcro®, loops over buttons, clasps (e.g., magneticclasps), and combinations thereof. When attached to the apparel 100, aportion or surface 112 of the bedding is exposed and forms a part of theexterior back surface 110 of the apparel 100. For example, the surface112 of the bedding can be part of the interior liner of the apparel 100.

FIGS. 2A-2C depict the apparel shown in FIG. 1A with one example of adetachable bedding. FIG. 2A depicts the exterior back surface 110 of theapparel 100 shown in FIG. 1B. The detachable bedding can be configuredinto a more compact package or bundle when attached to the apparel 100.For example, the bedding can be folded to reduce the size of the beddingto a fraction of its original size (e.g., folded in half or in thirds).When the bedding 200 is to be used, a person unfastens the fasteners 114to detach the bedding from the apparel and unfolds the bedding 200 (FIG.2B).

FIG. 2C shows the bedding 200 completely unfolded. In the illustratedembodiment, the bedding 200 is depicted as a sleeping bag that opens andcloses using the closure mechanism 202 (e.g., zipper). Other embodimentscan use a closure mechanism other than the zipper. Additionally oralternatively, in some embodiments the closure mechanism 202 may be usedas at least one fastener 114 that attaches the bedding 200 to theapparel. For example, a zipper may be constructed with one set of teethand n insert pin of the zipper attached to the back surface of theapparel 100 and a corresponding set of teeth, a box, and a sliderattached to the bedding 200. The insert pin of the first zipper can bereceived by the slider and box of the second zipper.

FIGS. 3A-3C show a second example of an apparel with another example ofa detachable bedding. Like the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparel300 is depicted as a jacket, but other types of apparel can be used. Thedetachable bedding can be configured into a more compact package orbundle when attached to the apparel 300. For example, the bedding can befolded to reduce the size of the bedding to a fraction of its originalsize (e.g., folded in half or in thirds).

When attached to the apparel 300, a portion or surface 302 of thebedding is exposed and forms a part of the exterior back surface 304 ofthe apparel 300. The bedding can attach to the back surface 304 with oneor more fasteners 306 (FIG. 3A). In the illustrated embodiment, thefasteners 306 are depicted as zippers, although other types of fastenersmay be used.

To detach the bedding from the apparel 300, a user unfastens thefastener(s) 306 (e.g., unzips the zippers) to separate the bedding 308from the apparel 300 (see FIGS. 3B and 3C). The user can unfold thebedding 308 (as shown by the arrows) as part of the process of detachingthe bedding 308 from the apparel 300. In other embodiments, the beddingmay be unfolded after the bedding is removed completely from theapparel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the bedding 308 is depicted as a sleepingbag that opens and closes using the zipper 310. Other embodiments canuse a closure mechanism other than the zipper 310. Additionally oralternatively, in some embodiments the closure mechanism (e.g., zipper310) may be used as at least one fastener 306 that attaches the bedding308 to the apparel.

FIGS. 4A-4C depict a third example of an apparel with another example ofa detachable bedding. The apparel 400 is depicted as a jacket with twolong sleeves 402 and a hood 404. As described earlier, other embodimentsare not limited to this type of apparel and/or to the illustratedconstruction of a jacket. For example, the hood 404 may be omitted inother embodiments, and/or short sleeves can be used instead of longsleeves.

A closure mechanism 406 is configured to open or close the two sides ofthe front surface 408 of the apparel 400. The closure mechanism 406 isshown as a zipper but other types of one or more closure mechanisms maybe used. Alternatively, the closure mechanism may be omitted from theapparel 100.

FIG. 4B shows the closure mechanism 406 opened (e.g., unzipped) and thefront surface of the apparel opened to reveal the interior back surface410 of the apparel 400. A bedding 414 is detachably attached to theinterior surface 410 using the fasteners 412. When attached to theapparel 400, a portion or surface of the bedding 414 is exposed andforms a part of the interior surface 410 (e.g., the liner) of theapparel 400.

Like the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the detachable bedding canbe configured into a more compact package or bundle when attached to theapparel 400. For example, the bedding can be folded to reduce the sizeof the bedding to a fraction of its original size (e.g., folded in halfor in thirds).

To detach the bedding from the interior surface 410 of the apparel 400,a user unfastens the fasteners 412 (e.g., unzips the zippers) toseparate the bedding 414 from the apparel 400 (see FIGS. 4B and 4C). Theuser can unfold the bedding 414 (as shown by the arrows) as part of theprocess of detaching the bedding 414 from the apparel 400. In otherembodiments, the bedding can be unfolded after the bedding is detachedcompletely from the apparel. In the illustrated embodiment, the bedding414 is depicted as a sleeping bag.

FIGS. 5A-5C depict a fourth example of an apparel with an example of adetachable or removable bedding. The apparel 500 is depicted as a jackethaving a pocket 502 formed in the exterior back surface 504 of theapparel 500. As described earlier, other embodiments are not limited tothis type of apparel and/or to the illustrated construction of a jacket.Additionally, the pocket can be formed in a different surface of theapparel, or the apparel can include multiple pockets formed in the sameor different surfaces of the apparel.

A fastener 506 is configured to open or close at least one side or edgeof the pocket 502. In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 506 opensand closes a top side of the pocket 502. In other embodiments, fastener506 can open and close two or more sides of the pocket 502. In FIG. 5Athe fastener 506 is shown as a zipper but other types of one or morefasteners may be used.

To detach the bedding from the apparel 500 by removing the bedding fromthe pocket 502, a user unfastens the fastener 506 (e.g., unzips thezipper) to open the pocket and withdraw the bedding 508 from the apparel500. FIG. 5B shows the bedding 508 in a partially unfolded state. Thebedding 508 can be configured into a more compact package or bundle whenstored in the pocket 502. For example, the bedding 508 can be folded toreduce the size of the bedding to a fraction of its original size (e.g.,folded in half or in thirds).

FIG. 5C shows the bedding 508 completely unfolded. In the illustratedembodiment, the bedding 508 is depicted as a sleeping bag that opens andcloses using the closure mechanism 510 (e.g., the zipper). Otherembodiments can use a closure mechanism other than the zipper.

FIGS. 6A-6C show a first example of an apparel that can be configuredinto bedding. In this embodiment, the apparel 600 is configurable as apair of pants and as bedding (e.g., a half sleeping bag or). In someembodiments, one or more sections of the pants can be folded at thewaist and/or at other areas of the pants to permit the pants to beconfigured into a sleeping bag that is larger than a half sleeping bag(e.g., a full sleeping bag). An example pair of pants includes, but isnot limited to, snow pants, ski pants, hunting pants, hiking pants,trousers, and slacks constructed for men, women, and/or children.

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict front and back views of the pair of pants,respectively. A first closure mechanism 606 can be used to form one pantleg and a second closure mechanism 608 may be used to form the otherpant leg. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the first a secondclosure mechanisms 606, 608 are zippers. A user can zip up each zipperto produce the legs 604 of the pants.

To configure the pants 600 into bedding 612, a user separates the frontsurface 609 of the pants from the back surface 610 of the pants (e.g.,unzips the zippers). In the illustrated embodiment, one zipper isarranged with respect to the other zipper so that the insert pin of thefirst zipper (e.g., 606) can be received by the slider and box of thesecond zipper (e.g., 608). In other words, components of the twoseparate zippers 606, 608 are cooperatively arranged (e.g., complementsof each other) to form a third zipper 602 that when closed produces thebedding 612 (FIG. 6C). In other embodiments, a zipper having componentsthat are separate from the components of the first and second zippers606, 608 may be used to re-configure the pants 600 into a sleeping bag612.

In the illustrated embodiment, a user can slip into the bedding 612(e.g., the sleeping bag or half sleeping bag) at the waistband. In otherembodiments, one or more closure mechanisms (not shown) can be used. Forexample, at least one side of the pair of pants can include a zipperthan extends from the waistband to the bottom of a leg.

FIG. 7 depicts a second example of an apparel that can be configuredinto bedding. In this embodiment, a first apparel 700 is configured toattach or be secured to a second apparel 704 to produce a bedding. In anon-limiting example, a jacket is adapted to attach to a pair of pants,although embodiments are not limited to these types of apparel. The pairof pants is configurable to bedding as shown and described inconjunction with FIGS. 6A-6C.

The jacket 700 includes a first set of fasteners 702 and the pair ofpants 704 includes a second set of fasteners 706. The two sets offasteners 702, 706 are adapted to be detachably secured to each other(represented by arrows). In one non-limiting example, each fastener inthe first set of fasteners 702 is a stud (male component) and eachfastener in the second set of fasteners 706 is a socket (femalecomponent). Each stud snaps into a respective socket to attach thejacket 700 to the pants 704. In another embodiment, each fastener in thefirst set of fasteners 702 can be a button and each fastener in thesecond set of fasteners 706 a button hole. Alternatively, in someembodiments the first and second sets of fasteners 702, 706 include oneor more zippers that can be closed (zipped) to attach the jacket to thepants and opened (unzipped) to separate the jacket from the pants.

A user may not attach the first set of fasteners 702 to the second setof fasteners 706 when the user wants to wear the jacket and pants asapparel. Alternatively, a user can attach the first and second sets offasteners 702, 706 to each other when the user wants to wear the jacketand pants as apparel. When the user wants to configure the jacket andthe pants into bedding, the user configures the pair of pants into afirst bedding (e.g., sleeping bag) as shown and described in conjunctionwith FIGS. 6A-6C. The user then attaches the jacket to the sleeping bagusing the first and second sets of fasteners 702, 706.

The apparel 600 shown in FIGS. 6A-6B and the second apparel 704 shown inFIG. 7 can be detachably attached to another apparel (e.g., firstapparel 700) using one or more fasteners or by storing the apparel in apocket formed in a surface of the other apparel.

Even though specific embodiments have been described herein, it shouldbe noted that the application is not limited to these embodiments. Inparticular, any features described with respect to one embodiment mayalso be used in other embodiments, where compatible. Likewise, thefeatures of the different embodiments may be exchanged, wherecompatible. For example, an apparel assembly can include an apparel thatincludes detachable bedding, such as the apparel shown in FIG. 1A. Theapparel may include a first set of one or more fasteners, such as theset of fasteners 602 shown in FIG. 6. The detachable bedding can includea second set of one or more fasteners, such as the set of fasteners 606shown in FIG. 6. Once the bedding has been detached from the apparel,the apparel and the bedding can detachably attach to one another to formanother bedding.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the describedembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice the describedembodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specificembodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustrationand description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations arepossible in view of the above teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparel assembly, comprising: an apparelwearable by a person; and a bedding detachably attached to a surface ofthe apparel with at least one fastener, wherein a portion of the beddingforms a part of the surface of the apparel.
 2. The apparel assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the surface of the apparel comprises an exterior backsurface of the apparel.
 3. The apparel assembly of claim 1, wherein thesurface of the apparel comprises an interior back surface of theapparel.
 4. The apparel assembly of claim 1, wherein the apparelcomprises a jacket and the bedding a sleeping bag.
 5. The apparelassembly of claim 1, wherein the apparel comprises a jacket and thebedding a blanket.
 6. The apparel assembly of claim 1, wherein the atleast one fastener comprises one or more zippers.
 7. The apparelassembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one fastener comprises one ormore snaps.
 8. A pair of pants configurable into a bedding, the pair ofpants comprising: one or more first fasteners to configure each leg ofthe pair of pants; and at least one second fastener to configure theapparel into the bedding.
 9. The pair of pants of claim 8, wherein thebedding comprises a half sleeping bag.
 10. The pair of pants of claim 8,wherein the one or more first fasteners each comprise a zipper.
 11. Thepair of pants of claim 10, wherein the at least one second fastenercomprises a zipper.
 12. The pair of pants of claim 11, wherein the oneor more first fasteners comprise at least two first fasteners and the atleast one second fastener is constructed using components associatedwith the two or more first fasteners.
 13. The pair of pants of claim 8,wherein the pair of pants comprises a first apparel that furthercomprises a first set of one or more fasteners, the first set of one ormore fasteners configured to detachably attach to a second set of one ormore fasteners associated with a second apparel.
 14. The pair of pantsof claim 13, wherein the second apparel comprises a jacket.
 15. Anapparel assembly, comprising: an apparel wearable by a person, theapparel comprising a first set of one or more fasteners; and a pair ofpants configurable into a bedding, the pair of pants comprising: one ormore first fasteners to configure each leg of the pair of pants; atleast one second fastener to configure the apparel into the bedding; anda second set of one or more fasteners configured to detachably attach tothe first set of one or more fasteners.
 16. The apparel assembly ofclaim 15, wherein the first apparel comprises a jacket and the bedding ahalf sleeping bag.